Fastener for bottle-stoppers.



C. F. THATCHER.

FASTENER FOR BOTTLE SIQPPERS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1917.

1 240,51 1 Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

INVENTUR'.

4' f WW I TEIRNE'Yfl cHAnLnsr. THATGHEB, or raovrnnncn,

RHODE ISLAND.

FASTENER FOR BOTTLE-STOPPERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

Application filed April 19, 1917. Serial No. 163,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns F. TI-IATGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fasteners for Bottle-Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fasteners for bottle stoppers, and it resides in a simple and efiicient retaining device, preferably formed of wire, for holding glass stoppers in position.

Bottles containing alcoholic beverages or compositions likely to ferment usually have means for releasing the excess of gas, and it is a further aim of this invention to provide a retaining device for returning the glass stopper to its seat to insure against the loss of the contents of the bottle.

In the drawing forming a part of this application- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the retaining device applied to the neck of a bottle.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the stopper fastener in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof, and

Fig. 4: is a perspective of the invention, per 86. I

The retaining device is especially adapted to use in connection with bottles having cork rings in their mouths and cooperating glass stoppers so it has, therefore, been illustrated on the neck of a bottle of this type in the accompanying drawing in which the numeral 1 designates the bottle, in fragment, 2 the cork ring in the mouth or neck thereof, 3 the glass stopper, which has a depending plug 4 passing through the ring, and 5 the stopper fastener or retaining device.

This retaining device consists of a single length of wire bent centrally in the form of a cross bar 10, and then the end portions are bent downwardly at an acute angle as at 8 to form substantially parallel arms 9-9. The arms 9-9 are then bent rearwardly in the form of a semi-circle or U to provide a neck embracing base or clamp 6-6 adapted to engage the neck of the bottle immediately below an exterior peripheral bead or shoulder 7 thereon. The acute angular bends 8 occur slightly beyond the center of the bottle, and the arms 9-9 incline rear wardly over the neck clasp 6-6 to dispose the cross bar 10, substantially diamet rical of the top of the glass stopper, as depicted in Figs. 1 and 3. In this connection it will be noted that the upper surface of the stopper is slightly spherical or round and that the cross bar being substantially in a horizontal plane engages the surface at its center and by reason of the retainer being of spring metal provides for a slight yielding of the stopper during the escape of gas.

In practice the device is applied by positioning the cross bar 10 centrally of the top of the stopper, and swinging the clasp 6 downwardly and transversely of the neck of the bottle during which action the arms of the clasp will spring outwardly into a position for anchoring the retaining device to the neck of the bottle.

To remove the retaining device the clasp is used as a handle and lifted or swung outwardly away from the bottle until the former slips over the shoulder 7 when it may readily be lifted ofi'.

The device is preferably made from wire possessing sufficient resiliency to accomplish the desired results, since in applying the device the clasp is sprung over the shoulder 7 and simultaneously to a greater angular relation with the arms 9%) in order to exert a downward pull on the stopper and the arms 6 6 yield during the application of the device.

After any gas surplusage has escaped the stopper is returned to its seat by the resilient nature of the device.

The device may be economically manufactured in an expeditious manner and will be found very eflicient as a retaining device or fastener for glass stoppers, being formed along simple and durable lines.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- In combination with a receptacle having an exterior shoulder about its neck and a stopper for the receptacle having a convex top, a fastener for the stopper formed of a single length of resilient wire bent centrally to provide an integral and diametrical straight bar engaging the convex top of the stopper only at its center, and extending beyond the stopper, the outer ends of the bar being downturned into arallel arms spaced from the stopper and eing straight throughout their lengths, said arms inclined from the diainetricel plane of the receptacle name to this specification in the presence of and having their lower ends bent acutely two subscribing Witnesses. an nlzir to form neck-en1brecin members i the free terminals of which are ciii'ved about CHARLES THATCHER' the neck of said receptacle beneath the Witnesses: shoulder. Ann E. HAGERTY,

In testimony whereof I have signed. my J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingithe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. v 

